BY JAMES PRESCOTT–Words have such power don’t they? Especially words fed to us as we are growing up. The messages we hear through our teenage years have the potential to stay with us for decades to come. The words I heard the most when I was a teenager
Encouragement. We’re all in favor of it, and it’s even in the Bible. In the book of Hebrews, we’re told to “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called, ‘Today,’” which is . . . a lot of encouraging. But what, exactly, is
BY KRISTIN HAMMETT–I had an oil change appointment after a 4-day work trip. With a lot to catch up on, I pulled out my computer in the lobby of the service department. I could get a lot done in 45 minutes if I stayed focused. An older gentleman
Recently, I became a grandfather. So far, I’m good at this gig. I haven’t dropped my grandson, a win for little Henry. And, I haven’t yet changed a diaper, a win for me. Our daughter Laura was induced early, because of issues too complicated for me to understand
1st Faith is an idea. A dream. A vision. A hope. We’re naive enough to believe it can happen. If you believe too, hop on board. First, some background Our team’s faith journey is a long, winding road. We come from different Christian backgrounds, different experiences, different understandings
Redeemed–that’s the word that comes to mind today as I think about my life. To be honest, I have walked closely to the Lord for over a decade now, so sometimes I forget how crazy my life was before I completely let Him take over. So many of
Recently I performed for a volunteer appreciation night for more than 200 church volunteers at a fellowship in Rochester, NY, not far from where I grew up, and make my home today. They were a wonderful audience—perfect for a comedian. I closed with a personal story, to illustrate
Becoming a mom changed my life in ways I never expected. It’s completely changed my outlook on God and His love for us. I finally understand the intensity and unconditional nature of a parent’s love. Recently, I had to discipline my daughter for something that, at the time,
Once upon a time I was in the fourth grade. Mrs. Drachman had been renamed Mrs. Dracula by those of us in her fourth grade at the Mary Lyon School in Boston. Of course, we were brave enough to call her that only on the playground; we were
By KIRK WALDEN–Opening my suitcase after checking into a hotel for a speaking engagement, I realized I forgot to pack a dress shirt. I had a couple of casual button-downs, but nothing for the event. Yikes. My family was with me, so off we went to a men’s
I accepted a new job offer to teach at a high school near where I live–a bittersweet decision because I loved the school where I was and loved my students. Yet I knew God was leading me to make this move, though it meant teaching two totally new
A very familiar voice called me forward one night – I reasoned with God that he was calling the wrong person because I was entangled in promiscuity, alcoholism, being experimental, partying, and hatred. There was no way that God could call me and use me for His glory,
The value of friendships means so much to me, and the heartache of a divorce reinforced how important friends can be. After 30 years of what I thought was a strong marriage, my husband left me. I was devastated. My children, family, and friends were as shocked and
My wife and I had just moved to Atlanta so I could begin my first job out of college as an Engineer. She found a job teaching high school math. Life was good. It was time for us to start our life together. A new city to explore.
There’s a story which—at first glance—makes me look at Jesus and say, “What were you thinking?” It’s in Luke’s account (Ch. 8), the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man. A quick refresher. Jesus calms the sea, then when he and the disciples get to the other side,
FROM KIRK WALDEN, EDITOR: For regulars here, you know 1st Faith is where anyone has an opportunity to tell a story of faith. Why? Because one of the strongest ways to build a friend’s faith is through telling our own story. A story which captures me is the
In 2007, during my first year of marriage, I became incredibly ill. My body unleashed attacks upon itself as an autoimmune disease viciously assailed my pancreas, intestines and finally, my entire colon. In weeks, I went from years of barely experiencing more than a cold, to knowing medical
He was a good guy. We got along well, he went to church with me and stood with me through a terrible health scare. When I came through it, he asked me to marry him. I said yes. Yet, there were flags. Things that didn’t “fit.” And as
“What if God’s not real, Mommy?” It was a question wedged somewhere between chicken nuggets and several asks for ice cream after lunch. My 5-year-old had just described an obscure Old Testament story to me with great detail and spiritual insight . . . and this was the
About ten years ago I was talking with my husband’s best friend, who told me of growing up in a children’s home in the Midwest. When he mentioned the name of the home, something clicked. When I was a little girl, our little country church of 250 people
One of our team members, Kirk Walden, tells one of his stories of faith. It was sometime in the 90s. I was a single dad, not by choice. But here I was, with three young children just trying to hold on. On the outside, I faked it. I’d
She graduated from college and launched her acting career while still a single mom. Her experience was just what she needed when she received a phone call from a friend in Hollywood . . . In the time I was back and forth between LA and the Southeast,
Sometimes when God gives us a nudge, we’re bumped out of our comfort zone. But then He sends along the right person, at the right time . . . It was two summers ago and I sensed God leading me to make a decision that honestly didn’t make
BY DAVID HOUSEL* Saw something recently that I thought I would never see. Cody Parkey of the Chicago Bears lifted his index finger toward the heavens after missing what would have been the game-winning field goal with seconds left in the Bears’ NFL playoff game against the Philadelphia
I was at a store and overheard a young girl talking on her cellphone. She told the person on the phone she didn’t think that “this time,” she could hide the bruises her boyfriend gave her from her parents. She told her friend the bruises were on her
In July of 2010, I was playing soccer with a group of kids in the baseball stadium of Ocotal, Nicaragua. My heart was beating out of my chest. This was not because I was running around too much, but because God was telling me to do something down
While out shopping with two of my children, we headed to the parking lot and noticed a commotion with people staring in our general direction. In front of us, a very angry woman was slamming the door to her beaten-up vehicle. Her passenger was
There was a time in my early 20s when I was rebelling against God, living life my own way. Honestly, I was angry, because it seemed like I had trusted Him, yet in my mind He had not yet come through for me. I stopped
We were eating dinner when she peeked in from the door which opens to our deck. At just four-years-old, her eyes got wide when she saw all of us around the dinner table. Fumbling with the door knob, she quickly opened the door and burst
This $20 bill took me back 20 years, to a day when I was a single dad with three kids. It was dinnertime and I was exhausted. I just didn’t have it in me to cook anything. But we didn’t have any money, either. Looking
Our friends Derrick and Julie Tennant–brother and sister–are incredible people of faith. Julie, by the way, has Down Syndrome so on this day, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with her and all others who carry what Julie is blessed to call, “The Love Chromosome.”